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If Pretty Hate Machine was Trent Reznor showing us who he is, then The Downward Spiral is showing us his inner sanctum. It’s a dark and atmospheric (two biggest words used EVER, I know), and I believe it to be just about my favorite album of all time. Where his next album expands and tries different themes and sounds, this album is really coherent, down to the point and a freaking INCREDIBLE ride from front to back. There isn’t one song I could skip – and this is the first album I bought on vinyl (at the same time as Lifted – Bright eyes).

It should be said as well that there is literally a BILLION different variants of this album – as with every NIN release. The actual release I picked up is the “US retail release, issued 2008. Very similar to 1994 US promo vinyl.” Catalog number-B0011697-01

The actual vinyl

Downward Spiral in this incarnation comes in a gate fold with a large art thing which covers the whole inner fold. There’s a pic below, but it has 13 teeth stuck in metal with metal scrapes below said teeth. Apparently it wasn’t a good opportunity to just have 9, inch scrapes. This image – alone with all of the rest are also from the CD release. The outer side of the gate fold is just the standard album art.

Now, as all gate fold releases I’ve seen, the 2 vinyl slide in either side. Both black vinyl of this release are housed in sleeves, one side of the sleeve is lyrics and the other is a large piece of imagery. It’s a little hard to slide out the vinyl – which I think it’s good. But does force me to pinch the very outer edge of the vinyl which I get quite edgy about. Heh. Then the actual vinyl has art in the center sticker for side A, then side b has that vinyl’s track-list set to the standard downward spiral backdrop.

Tracklist

A 1 – Mr. Self Destruct

2 – Piggy

3 – Heresy

4 – March of the Pigs

B 1 – Closer

2 – Ruiner

3 – The Becoming

C 1 – I Do Not Want This

2 – Big Man With A Gun

3 – A Warm Place

4 – Eraser

D 1 – Reptile

2 – The Downward Spiral

3 – Hurt

$$

This album is available in one million variants. You think I’m joking when I say one million? I’m not. And it really depends as to what sort of a collector nut you are – as to which edition you like. I’m a stickler for art and lyrics – so I passed up the picture disc version. However the pic disc version looks amazing and I might get it in the future.

Anywhere – Usually $35++++++ Really depends as said. Most expensive on ebay of current is $60. I was lucky enough to get it for $20 second hand.

ps. This is NOT a record to play anywhere near your parents. If you haven’t listened to NIN before, you literally have to lock your door – dig a hole in your room and create a torture chamber under your house. Then dress up in tight black and then blast this whole album so loud your ears implode. Or the album will cut you in your sleep. No joke. “You wana know how I got these scars?”

Nine Inch Nails blasted into the music scene with their first album “Pretty Hate Machine” in 89. Down in it is the first single off said album and is the first release from Nine Inch Nails, also known as “Halo 1″ (the collector number NIN started since it’s first release). This 12” release has only 3 “tracks”, one is the original named Skin, then has 2 more remixes. I sort of bought this on a whim. In a lot of respects I’m glad I got this because it’s NIN and “collectors thing” and such. I’m also happy that I can listen to the original Down in it on vinyl until I can afford the new remastered Pretty Hate Machine. It didn’t cost all that much, but the remixes don’t really tickle my fancy. I would much prefer to have the UK version which has more info on it just above the pictures.

The actual vinyl

This vinyl comes in a white sleeve and slipcase. The slipcase has your standard album art, and the tracklist and credits on the back. If you look really really closely on the cover there are stripes and in the top left there is the NIN logo. The center image on the vinyl is the track list on side B and the plain NIN logo on side A. It’s funny, each nin vinyl release I’ve seen always has the tracklist for the vinyl on side B rather than side A which I find quite peculiar. The catalog number for this release is TVT 2611.

Tracklist

A – 1 Down In It (Skin) – Original track – 3:46

2 Down in it (Shred) – Remix by Adrian Sherwood And Keith LeBlanc – 6:56

If you were really after a Down in it single vinyl I’d aim for the UK version. The Uk version has 6 tracks including 2 Terrible Lie remixes however is a bit more expensive. You’d be looking at spending $30 plus on it. However is a lot more worth it that the US version I feel.